Theodore Roosevelt Political Party: Republican Terms in office: 1st September 14, 1901; 2nd March 4, 1905 Vice President: 1st None 2nd Charles W. Fairbanks Thematic Content
Theodore Roosevelt is arguably one of the greatest shapers of the American Identity. His ideas for foreign relations changed how the whole world saw America. With his big stick policy the world powers saw that America was a powerful world power, and one of the greatest. With the Roosevelt Corollary, which he added onto the Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt showed that America was the police force of the Latin America and that European powers would not be able to touch them. However it also started America being the “unfriendly neighbor” by using force in Latin America to keep peace and order by taking over many different countries. This was especially shown in the acquisition of the Panama Canal because by using his big stick Roosevelt helped Panama overthrow the Columbian government in that region. This canal was and still is a major trading passage for the whole world and it helped to show the power of the American government to get what they wanted.
Roosevelt also shaped the domestics of America by having the Meat Inspection Act passed in 1906, which started major regulations on American business that had not existed before. Before the act was passed there were no regulations on packing and American companies were selling dangerous products. American products were being sent back from Europe for being so poor quality before it the returned meat and goods would be resold to American citizens. So the meat inspections act not only improved domestic sales of food, but also the reputation of American goods in foreign markets by having a seal that approved the safety of the products. Thesis
Theodore Roosevelt was a great president who used all of the power that he had and more than that to get what he wanted and to strengthen America. He was able to make America viewed as a substantial global power both in military power and in diplomatic power. He also made major improvements to domestic issues of working conditions, product quality, and environmental protection. Due to his major successes in these two areas he is deserving of an A and only not an A+ because of the sometimes questionable acts he took with his big stick policy. Goals
Roosevelt’s main goal for his presidency was to maintain peace with other nations, while keeping justice at the same time. While doing that he wanted to maintain that nations shouldn’t fear America, but they also should not be able to look down at us or blame us for aggressions. This meant that Roosevelt wanted to establish the global power of America without wronging any other nations while doing it. He was partially successful at doing this. Through his big stick policy he was able to show Europe that America had the military power to back up the Roosevelt Corollary and the Monroe Doctrine. He also showed the world that America was willing to help other nations diplomatically and work out issues without fighting when he helped with the square deal between Russia and Japan and in the gentleman’s Agreement between America and Japan. However his goal was partially didn’t come true because in his actions in Latin America he caused many Latin American nations to fear and dislike the United States for their use of force over their nations. Relationship with Congress
Based on the fact that there was a Republican majority in the House and Senate during all of Roosevelt’s administration as president one can tell that Roosevelt had a favorable relationship with congress. This was also shown in practice as well because Congress supported the actions of Roosevelt that may have been considered questionable by some people. Some of his actions that may have been questionable included his actions in sending ships to Panama to block Columbia from passing the Isthmus. Their support was also shown in the many different conservation acts supported by Roosevelt as well as the Inspection Acts supported by Roosevelt. Roosevelt was able to have many different trust busting laws passed through congress as well. Another thing that showed the support of Roosevelt in Congress was his low number of vetoes, which showed that he agreed with most of the laws passed through congress. Positive
Roosevelt’s biggest positive action was his acquisition of the Panama Canal. This is because it was extremely important for America to have a water way to travel from one side of the country to the other for protection of the whole nation and for trade. It also opened the trade from Asia to be taken to the East coast and sold. A major reason that the Panama Canal is Roosevelt’s most positive action was because it affected more than just America. The trade route that it opened would be used by the whole world and was the major trade route for Asia to Europe. This brought a boost in income for the United States because of charges that came from the Canal. Roosevelt also helped to free the people of Panama from the oppression of the Columbian government while obtaining the Panama Canal. Negative
The Negative that is often blamed on Roosevelt is the Panic of 1907, which many people blamed on Roosevelt because of his trust busting and his prolabor policies. Roosevelt blamed the panic on the big business in America. As most economic panics the true cause of the panic was over speculation by investors. This was a time when the American economy was suffering and many banks and railroads were closing down. There was little for Roosevelt to do about the panic because it didn’t last very long and was resolved by private citizens, like J.P. Morgan. This was the one minor negative thing that happened during the presidency of Roosevelt. Future Impact
Roosevelt’s biggest impact on the future of America was his domestic actions, specifically his meat inspection act and his conservation acts. They left the largest, most obvious and tangible impact on the future American people. The meat inspection act helped to protect the American people from corruption and filth in their food markets and gave them safe meat to eat. It also gave Americans a market to sell food to foreign countries by bringing them to proper standards. The conservation acts gave America national parks, as well as made America properly use the resources they have. It showed America that we couldn’t continue with a limitless lifestyle and that we had to conserve nature and resources. In that way it changed the lifestyle of future Americans throughout all of America. Conclusion
Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most successful and influential presidents in the United States. He established America as a major global power through his big stick policy and Roosevelt Corollary, as well as showing that America would be able to diplomatically solve issues. He also was able to solve pressing domestic issues of the time that would affect the future of America. Overall America was much better off at the end of Roosevelt’s administration than it was before. His only downfall was the extent to which he went to get what he wanted on some issues, which could have been considered out of his power to do. Bibliography Degregorio, William A. "Theodore Roosevelt." The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 4th ed. Avenel: Wings, 2005. 373-91. Print. "58th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/58th_United_States_Congress>. "59th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/59th_United_States_Congress>. "57th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/57th_United_States_Congress>. "Miller Center." American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Domestic Affairs. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/essays/biography/4>. "60th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60th_United_States_Congress>. "Theodore Roosevelt: Inaugural Address." Theodore Roosevelt: Inaugural Address. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25829>. Tucker, Abigal. "Smithsonian.com." Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian, 10 Oct. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/1907_Panic.html>.
Political Party: Republican
Terms in office: 1st September 14, 1901; 2nd March 4, 1905
Vice President: 1st None 2nd Charles W. Fairbanks
Thematic Content
Theodore Roosevelt is arguably one of the greatest shapers of the American Identity. His ideas for foreign relations changed how the whole world saw America. With his big stick policy the world powers saw that America was a powerful world power, and one of the greatest. With the Roosevelt Corollary, which he added onto the Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt showed that America was the police force of the Latin America and that European powers would not be able to touch them. However it also started America being the “unfriendly neighbor” by using force in Latin America to keep peace and order by taking over many different countries. This was especially shown in the acquisition of the Panama Canal because by using his big stick Roosevelt helped Panama overthrow the Columbian government in that region. This canal was and still is a major trading passage for the whole world and it helped to show the power of the American government to get what they wanted.
Roosevelt also shaped the domestics of America by having the Meat Inspection Act passed in 1906, which started major regulations on American business that had not existed before. Before the act was passed there were no regulations on packing and American companies were selling dangerous products. American products were being sent back from Europe for being so poor quality before it the returned meat and goods would be resold to American citizens. So the meat inspections act not only improved domestic sales of food, but also the reputation of American goods in foreign markets by having a seal that approved the safety of the products.
Thesis
Theodore Roosevelt was a great president who used all of the power that he had and more than that to get what he wanted and to strengthen America. He was able to make America viewed as a substantial global power both in military power and in diplomatic power. He also made major improvements to domestic issues of working conditions, product quality, and environmental protection. Due to his major successes in these two areas he is deserving of an A and only not an A+ because of the sometimes questionable acts he took with his big stick policy.
Goals
Roosevelt’s main goal for his presidency was to maintain peace with other nations, while keeping justice at the same time. While doing that he wanted to maintain that nations shouldn’t fear America, but they also should not be able to look down at us or blame us for aggressions. This meant that Roosevelt wanted to establish the global power of America without wronging any other nations while doing it. He was partially successful at doing this. Through his big stick policy he was able to show Europe that America had the military power to back up the Roosevelt Corollary and the Monroe Doctrine. He also showed the world that America was willing to help other nations diplomatically and work out issues without fighting when he helped with the square deal between Russia and Japan and in the gentleman’s Agreement between America and Japan. However his goal was partially didn’t come true because in his actions in Latin America he caused many Latin American nations to fear and dislike the United States for their use of force over their nations.
Relationship with Congress
Based on the fact that there was a Republican majority in the House and Senate during all of Roosevelt’s administration as president one can tell that Roosevelt had a favorable relationship with congress. This was also shown in practice as well because Congress supported the actions of Roosevelt that may have been considered questionable by some people. Some of his actions that may have been questionable included his actions in sending ships to Panama to block Columbia from passing the Isthmus. Their support was also shown in the many different conservation acts supported by Roosevelt as well as the Inspection Acts supported by Roosevelt. Roosevelt was able to have many different trust busting laws passed through congress as well. Another thing that showed the support of Roosevelt in Congress was his low number of vetoes, which showed that he agreed with most of the laws passed through congress.
Positive
Roosevelt’s biggest positive action was his acquisition of the Panama Canal. This is because it was extremely important for America to have a water way to travel from one side of the country to the other for protection of the whole nation and for trade. It also opened the trade from Asia to be taken to the East coast and sold. A major reason that the Panama Canal is Roosevelt’s most positive action was because it affected more than just America. The trade route that it opened would be used by the whole world and was the major trade route for Asia to Europe. This brought a boost in income for the United States because of charges that came from the Canal. Roosevelt also helped to free the people of Panama from the oppression of the Columbian government while obtaining the Panama Canal.
Negative
The Negative that is often blamed on Roosevelt is the Panic of 1907, which many people blamed on Roosevelt because of his trust busting and his prolabor policies. Roosevelt blamed the panic on the big business in America. As most economic panics the true cause of the panic was over speculation by investors. This was a time when the American economy was suffering and many banks and railroads were closing down. There was little for Roosevelt to do about the panic because it didn’t last very long and was resolved by private citizens, like J.P. Morgan. This was the one minor negative thing that happened during the presidency of Roosevelt.
Future Impact
Roosevelt’s biggest impact on the future of America was his domestic actions, specifically his meat inspection act and his conservation acts. They left the largest, most obvious and tangible impact on the future American people. The meat inspection act helped to protect the American people from corruption and filth in their food markets and gave them safe meat to eat. It also gave Americans a market to sell food to foreign countries by bringing them to proper standards. The conservation acts gave America national parks, as well as made America properly use the resources they have. It showed America that we couldn’t continue with a limitless lifestyle and that we had to conserve nature and resources. In that way it changed the lifestyle of future Americans throughout all of America.
Conclusion
Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most successful and influential presidents in the United States. He established America as a major global power through his big stick policy and Roosevelt Corollary, as well as showing that America would be able to diplomatically solve issues. He also was able to solve pressing domestic issues of the time that would affect the future of America. Overall America was much better off at the end of Roosevelt’s administration than it was before. His only downfall was the extent to which he went to get what he wanted on some issues, which could have been considered out of his power to do.
Bibliography
Degregorio, William A. "Theodore Roosevelt." The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 4th ed. Avenel: Wings, 2005. 373-91. Print.
"58th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/58th_United_States_Congress>.
"59th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/59th_United_States_Congress>.
"57th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/57th_United_States_Congress>.
"Miller Center." American President: Theodore Roosevelt: Domestic Affairs. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/essays/biography/4>.
"60th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60th_United_States_Congress>.
"Theodore Roosevelt: Inaugural Address." Theodore Roosevelt: Inaugural Address. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25829>.
Tucker, Abigal. "Smithsonian.com." Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian, 10 Oct. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/1907_Panic.html>.